Doorcheck



Oct. 20, 1931. w. E. STONEBRIDGE DOORCHECK Filed Jan.- l0, 193C 1NV'ENgI/m lo BY Patented Oct. 20, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E.STONEBRIDGE, OF NE'W YORK, N. Y.

DOORCHECK Application filed January 10, 1930, Serial No. 419,857.

My invention'relates to door-checks, and has particular reference to animproved timerelease door-check or hold-back.

' t is an object of my invention to provide a door-check or hold-backadapted to cooperate with a suitable door or other closure to permit thesame to be retained in opened position during a predetermined timeinterval, after which the door or closure is released and permitted tobe moved to closed position. Such a device has particular adaptabilityfor use in connection with the stair and/or exit doors of schools,churches, theatres or the like, as by its use, the door or doors can beopened, maintained in open position for a sufficient time to permit theclass congregation, audience or other assemblage to pass through theopen doors, and the .doors then released and closed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a door check adapted forattachment. to the wall, frame, or other stationary portion in proximityto a door or other closure, and to provide a catch adapted to be engagedby the check or hold-back when the door is moved to opened position,said check holding the catch in locked or engaged position during apredetermined time interval and then releasing the catch to permit thedoor to be moved or returned to closed position, either manually orthrough the instrumentality of a suitable spring or other desired formof door-closing mechanism.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a door-check adaptedfor attachment to stationary portion of a wall, frame, or otherstructure in proximity to the door, and including a pneumatic orhydraulic dash-pot controlled latching mechanism which engages catchcarried by the door as the door is moved to open position, the dash-potretaining the catch and latch in engaged position until the retardedaction of the latch mechanism occasioned. by the action of itsassociated dash-pot, functions to release the latch from engagement withthe catch to permit the door to be returned to its closed position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of theabove mentioned char- 53 acter which is' simple in construction,inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable and highly reliable andeliicient in the purposes for which designed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout theseveral views: l

Figure l is a vertical sectional view ofV my improved door-check showingthe doorcarried catch in latched position within the door-check orVhold-back device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of F ig. l;

E ig. 3 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. et is a side elevation of the base portion of the device, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section showing a modified form ofdash-pot construction, showing the piston thereof in its uppermostposition.

-Beferring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown several preferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral ldesignates a sliding or swinging door of any desired or preferredconstruction equipped with a catch 2 which has an outwardly-extendingportion 3 terminating in an upstanding hooked-shaped portion 4. Thecatch 2 is mounted at any desired height on the face or edge of thedoor, it being understood that if the door-check or holdbaclr to behereinafter described is used in connection with a swinging door, thecatch is mounted on the front face of the door preferably near the upperportion thereof at a point remote from the hinged edge, whereas, if thedevice is used in connection with a sliding door, the catch is mountedon the upper edge of the door. n

rlhe numeral 5 designates a wall, frame or other stationary structure towhich is attached, by screws or other fastening means, a hollow box-likestructure 6, having at its rear end laterally extending lugs by means ofwhich the device is attached to the wall or other stationary support 5.The forward end of the member 6 is open and the top of the said memberis also open through substantially its entire length except for thespaced connecting webs 8 and 9 which extend completely across the topportion between the two side walls of the member 6 near the rearthereof. At its lower rear corner, the member 6 has formed integrallytherewith or attached thereto a block or stop 10 for a purpose to behereinafter described, and opposite sides of the member 6 are providedon their inner faces with horizontally-filmed guide members 11 and 12,which engage longitudinal slots in the opposite sides of a pusherblock13 ada ted to slide bac-k and forth along the base o the member 6. Theupper rear edge of the pusher block is beveled as indicated at 14, andthe bottom face of this pusher block is provided with an elongatedrecess or pocket 15', within which is positioned a compression spring 16having its inner or rear end embedded or anchored in the base of themember 6 and its outer or forward end bearing against the forward end ofthe recess 15, thls spring normally urging the pusher block 13 towardthe forward or open end of the Illmber 6.

Mounted above the member 6 and attached 252 thereto by means of suitablescrews or rivets passing through the connectingr webs 8 and 9, is a.fluid tight dash-pot cylinder 17, having a removable top cover 18,through which access mav be had to the interior of the cylinder. base ofthe cylinder is provided with a centrally-disposed opening surrounded ban 11p-standing sleeve 19 of appreciable heig t and of a sufiicientdiameter to permit free vertical sliding movement of a piston 35 rod 20therein. Attached to the upper end of the piston rod 2() is an inverted,cupshaped member 21, to the lower open edge of which is secured, as bywelding, soldering or the like, a piston 22, provided with a central-10, ly-disposed opening slidably engaging the outer surface of thesleeve 19. rlhe piston 22 is provided with a Hap valve or valves 23,which open downwardly to permit the pist0n 22 to be moved toward the topof the cylinder with minimum resistance, but which close upon downwardmovement of the piston to prevent the passage therethrough of liquid orHuid from beneath the piston to the space above the piston. The pistonis provided 50D with a. restricted orifice or by-pass 24 and suitablemeans (not shown) may be associated with this orifice or by-pass toenlarge or restrict the by-pass to regulate the flow of liquid or fluidtherethrough, depending upon Mi the iuidity of the liquid and/or thepredetermined time interval which is desired for the piston to move fromits upper to its lower position. Between the top of the piston rod andthe inner face of the removable 00. cover plate 18 is positioned one ormore flat leaf springs 25 which normally tend to urge the piston rod andits associated piston d ownwardly. This spring or springs can beattached either to the top of the piston rod 20 Ii: or to the inner faceof the removable cover plate 18, it being noted that the piston rod 20is relatively heavy and. that with the initial downward impulse impartedby the spring, the weight of the piston rod and its associated parts isordinarily sufficient to move the piston downwardly. Of course, it' theliquid employed within the cylinder is too viscous to enable the weightof the piston and its associated parts to effect the downward movementof the piston, a more powerful leaf spring or springs or else a coilspring could be positioned between the head of the cylinder and the topof the piston rod 2O or member 21, to insure the desired downwardmovement of the piston.

The lower end of the piston rod 2() has pivotally attached thereto, asby means of centrally-disposed upstanding lugs 26, a plate 27, thisplate being pivoted intermediate its ends as by means of upstanding side lugs 28, which are pivotally attached to the opposite sides of themember 6 as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings. The underside ofthe rear portion of the plate 2T is provided with a depending cam-shapedlug 29 and the forward portion of said plate is provided with a pair ofdepending lugs 30, one of said lugs being positioned at each side edgeof the plate, these lugs 30 being apertured to receive therethrough atransverse rod 31, which has its extremities disposed within elongatedopenings 32 located in opposite sides of the member 6. At each end ofthe rod 3l and beyond the outer side faces of the member 6, washers 33are placed on the rod ends and are held thereon by means of cotter pins34. A roller 35 is loosely mounted on the rod 31 between the dependinglugs 30. In F ig. 5, of the accompanying drawings, I have shown amodified form of cylinder and piston construction, wherein the pistonrod 20 has attached at its upper end a solid, relatively heavy piston36, provided with packing rings 37. The piston 36 is provided with oneor more axially extending passages 38, at the lower end of which isprovided a iap valve 39 corresponding to the flap valve 23 abovedescribed, and opening downwardly, whereby the liquid or iuid within thecylinder is permitted to flow from.

'above the piston to below the piston with the minimum of resistance,these valves closing upon the downward movement of saidy piston. Thepiston 36 is further provided with an axially extending passage orby-pass 40, the flow of liquid or fluid through this passage or by-passbeing regulated by means of the adjusting screw 41 which extends intothe passage and controls the size thereof and the consequent by-pass ofliquid or Huid therethrough. ln the form of the invention shown in Fig.5, the leaf spring 25 is preferably secured to the removable cover plate18.

Referring now to the operation of the forni of my invention shown inFigures 1 to 4 in- Leashes elusive, the member 6 and its associatedparts is rigidly secured to a frame, wall, bracket or other stationarysupport in proximity to the door, in such a location that when the dooris opened, be it` a sliding or swinging door, the catch 2 carried by thedoor will enter the member 6 through the forward, open end thereof. Inthis normal position of the check or hold-back, the piston rod 2O andits associated parts are in their lowermost positions and, hence, theforward end of the plate 27 and the roller 35 are in their raisedpositions. Inward movement of the catch 2 forces the pusher block 13inwardly against the tension of the spring 16, the pusher bloclr 13being guided during its inward movement by means of the guides 11 and 12and the slots in the opposite side faces of said block.V The inwardmovement of this pusher block causes contact between the inclinedsurface 14 of the block and the depending cam member 29 and, hence, theplate 27 is rocked about its pivotal mounting to elevate the piston 22within the cylinder and to lower roller 35 into a position in front ofthe upstanding portion 4 of the catch. 'Ihe inward movement of thepusher block 13V continues until the forward end of the block contactswith the block or stop 10, this contact occurring after the piston rod2O has been raised to its uppermost position. The spring 16 then returnsthe pusher block 13 to its opposite or forward position, this movementof the pusher block forcing the hook-like portion 4 of the catch 2 intoclose contact with the inner periphery of the roller 35 and the partsare retained in this position until the piston rod 2O moves downwardlyto move the plate 27 about its pivotal mounting. During the upwardmovement of the piston, effected by the inward movement of the pusherblock 13 as described, there is very little resistance to such upwardmovement, due to the provision of the flap valves 23 which open up topermit the by-pass of the liquid or fluid from above the piston 22 tothe space below said piston. After the piston rod 20 and its associatedparts have reached their uppermost position, the spring 25 gives aninitial impulse to the piston rod to move the same downwardly, thisdownward movement being assisted by the weight of the piston rod Aandits associated parts. rIhe speed of the downward movement of the pistonrod and hence the. time interval consumed by the downward movement ofthe piston rod and its associated parts, is of course dependent upon theby-pass of the liquid or iiuid from the lower side of the piston to theupper side thereof, the rate of this bypass being regulated ordetermined by the size of the orifice or passage 24 in the piston 22, itbeing understood that the size of this orifice is dependent upon thefluidity of the liquid within the cylinder 17 and the time intervalwhich is desired for the operation of the check or hold-back. After thelapse of the desired time interval required for the piston to travel tothe lowermost position, the plate 27 has moved about its pivotalmounting and has raised the roller 35 out of engagement with theupstanding hooked end 4 of the catch 2, whereupon the catch isno longermaintained in latched position within the catch or hold-back and thedoor can then be moved, either manually or through the instrumentalityof a spring or other form of closure, to its closed position. f

The operation of the yform of my invention shown in F ig. 5, will bereadily apparent from the above description. In this device, the solidpiston 36 reciprocates within the cylinder and partales of arelatively-free or unrestricted upward movement due to' the opening ofthe Hap valves 39 and the by-pass of the liquid or fluid therethrough,and a retarded downward movement, due to the restricted passage 41, the'bypass of the liquid or fluid through this passage being regulated orcontrolled by the adjusting Ascrew 4l.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a pneumatic or hydraulic checkor hold-back for doors or other closures bymeans of which the closuremay be retained in open position during a predetermined time intervaland then released and moved to closed position, the retarded action ofthe device being readily adjustable to hold the closure open for thedesired time.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention hereinshown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred embodiments of my invention andthat various vchanges maybe made in the shape size and construction,withioo out departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope ofthe subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A hold-back comprising a casing, a'dashnot mounted above the casinorand'havinfr a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partakingof relatively free upward and retarded downwardmovements, a lpivoted latch member mounted within the casing having oneend attached to the piston rod, and a catch adapted to enter the casingand to be engaged by the free end of the pivoted latch member to beretained within the casing` by the latch member until released by theaction of the dash-pot at the Y y completion of the retarded downwardmovement of the piston rod thereof.

2. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaking of rela.- tively free upward and retarded downwardmovements, a pivoted latch within the casing having one end attachedtothe piston rod, a catch adapted to enter within the casing and to beengaged by the free end of the pivoted lio iis

lntchrmemberto be retained within the casing bythe latch member untilreleased by the action-of the dash-pot at the completion of theetnrdeddownward movementof the piston md therein, and means within the casingengaged by the catch as it enters the casing to engage the latch withthe catch.

.3. A hold-back comprising a casing, a daelkpot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod'extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaking of rela.- tively free upward and retarded downwardmovlelnentna latch pivoted intermediate its ends within the casing andhaving its inner cud attached to the piston rod, a. catch adapted toenter within the casing and to be retainedtherein by engagement with thefree end of the pivoted latch until released by the completion of theretarded downward movement of the piston rod of the dash-pot., and meansWithin the Casing and engaged by the catch as it enters the casing tomove the latch about its rpivotal mounting to engage the latch with thecatch.

4. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partakmg of relatively free upward and retarded downwardmovements, a latch pivoted intermediate its ends within the casing andhaving its nmer end attached to the piston rod, a catch adapted to enterwithin the casing and to be retained therein by engagement with the freeend of the pivoted latch until released by the completion of theretarded downward movement of the piston rod of the dash-pot, and asliding bluock within the casing engaged. by the catch as it enters thecasing and engaging the inner end of the latch to move the latch aboutits pivotal mounting to engage the latch with the catch.

5. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a. piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod pai-taking ot relatively free upward and retarded downwardmovements, a. latch pivot/ed intermedlate lts ends within the casing andhaving its inner endnttached tothe piston rod, a catch adapted to enterwithin the casing and to be retained therein by engagement with the freeend of the pivoted latch until released by the completion of theretarded downward movement of the piston rod of the dash-pot, a slidingblock within the casing engaged by the catch asit enters the casing andengaging beneath the pivoted end of the latch to move hhelateh about itspivotal mounting to engage the latch with the catch, and means to returnthe Sliding block to its normal position after engagement has beenestablished between the latch and catch.

.6. r.A hold-back comprising a. casing, ay dashfpot mounted above thecasing and having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing,said piston rod partaking of relatively free upward and retardeddownward movements, a` pivoted latch member within the casing having oneend attached to the piston rod, a catch adapted to enter within thecasing and to be engaged by the free end of the latch member, and meansto raise the piston rod within the dash-pot and to move the free end ot'the latch member into engagement with the catch, the latch and catchremaining in engaged position until the downward retarded movement ofthe piston rod raises the free end of the latch to release the catch.

7. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaking of relatively tree upward and retarded downwardmovements, a catch adapted to enter within the casing, a latch memberpivotally mountcd intermediate its kends within the casing, the innerend ot' said latch member being pivotally attached to the end of saidpiston rod and the outer end engaging thc catch member, and means tomove the piston rod and inner end of the latch member upwardly to movethe i'rec end ot' the latch member into engagement with the catch, thehitch and catch remaining in engaged position until the downward,retarded movement ot the piston rod and the inner end of the latchmeinber raises the free end of the latch member to release the catch.

8. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaking ot' relatively iree upward and retarded downwardmovements. a. pivotal latch member within the casing having its innerend attached to the piston rod, a catch adapted to enter with in thecasing and to be engaged by the tree end oi the latch member, a slidingblock engagcd by thc catch as it enters the casing, the inward movementot' the block forcing the inner end of the latch member and itsconnected piston rod upwardly and lowering the free end of the latchmember into cngagem'ent with the catch, the latch and catch remaining inengaged position until the downward, retarded movement of the piston rodraises the free end of the latch to release the catch, and means forreturning the sliding block to its normal position.

9. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaking of relatively frce upward and retarded downwardmovements. a pivoted latch member wit-hin the casing having its innerend attached to the 4piston rod, the inner end ot said latch memberhaving a depending cam member,

a catch adapted to enter within the casing and to be engaged by the treeend ot the latch member, a sliding block engaged by the catch as itenters the casing, the inward movement of the block causing contactbetween said block and said depending cam surface to force the inner endof the latch and its connected piston rod upwardly and lowering the freeend of the latch member into engagement with the catch, the latch andcatch remaining in engaged position until thedownward, retarded movementof the piston rod raises the free end of the latch to release thecatch,V and means for returning the sliding block to its normal positionout ot contact with the depending cam member.

10. A hold-back comprising a casing, a dash-pot mounted above the casingand having a. piston rod extending downwardly into the casing, saidpiston rod partaliing of relatively tree upward and retarded downwardmovements, a pivoted latch member within the casing having its inner endattached to i the piston rod, the inner end of said latch member havinga depending cam member, a roller attached to the forward end of thelatch member, a catch adapted to enter within the casing and to beengaged by the roller, a sliding block engaged by the catch as it entersthe casing, the inward movement of the block causing contact betweensaid block and said depending cam surface to torce the inner end of thelatch and its connected piston rod upwardly and lowering the roller intoengagement with the catch, the roller and catch remaining in engagedposition until the downward, retarded movement of the piston rod raisesthe roller to release the catch, and means for returning the slidingblock to its normal position out ot contact with the depending cammember.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. STONEBRIDGE.

